Holding device



oct. 3o, 192s. y1,689,643

A. J. RUDOLPH HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1925 ATTORNEY.

Patented @et 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALFRED J. RUDOLPH, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOLDING DEVICE.

Application filed .Tuly 2, 1923. Serial No. 649,187.

My invention relates to devices which are adapted for 'use either kfor clamping and holding a lid or closure in place upon the end ot' a pipe, bucket or the like, or for holding pipes or other objects in suspended position with respect to a stationary support, such as an I-beam or support of other character to which the device is adapted to be attached.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated comprising adjustable pivotally supported engaging members situated in spaced relation to each other whichare adapted to engage and be clamped againstor upon a member for the purpose or purposes above indicated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted for use either as a means for clamping and holding a lid or cover in place or for supporting objects in desired relation with respect to a stationary support to which the device is adapted to be secured.

A still. further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated comprising a har-like body portion having adjustable pivotal or swinging members connected thereto, the outer swinging ends of which are adapted to engage by a clamping action a member to which the device ris adapted to be secured.

To these and other ends my invention oo mprehends the construction as will be hereinafter described in detail and as shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It will be understood, however, that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown 'herein and that changes in the details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of a device embodying the invention and in which the same is shown as employed 'for holding and clamping a cover or closure in place.v such, for instance, as the cover for an opening leading into a trap in a sewage pipe;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 f

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 3-3 `of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar tothat shown in Fig. 1 showing the device employed as a hanger for supporting articles in desired rela- 'be effected when the screw v12,

tion with respect to a stationary support, such as an I-beam.

Referring to the drawing: 1 designates an elongated bar-like member which is substantially of U-shape in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 2. The edges of the opposite sides of the said member are provided with inwardly extending flanges 2, as shown in Fig. 2, which flanges are in turn provided withtlanges orv bead-like portions, as indicated at 3, which extend reversely or in a direction toward the top or base 4 vof the said member 1. The fianges 2 and the bead-like portions or narrow flanges 3 are interrupted, as indicated at 5. The bead-like portions or narrow 'flanges 3 are provided with notches at intervals, as shown at 6. These notches are arranged in couples. The outermost ot these notches are situated at the outer eiids of the bead-like portions or narrow ianges 3,-the ends 7 of the member 'l forming the outer walls of the said notches, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. Y

10 designates hook-shaped engaging members, the stems of which terminate in cross? heads 11, the opposite ends of which project outwardly from the said stems. The heads 11 and the adjacent portions ot the stems of the hook members are adapted to be inserted through the spaces termed bythe interruptions at 5 into the space between the opposite sides of the member 1. Such insertion may as shown in Figs= 1 to 3, or the screw 13, as shown in Fig. 4L, has been retracted so that the end thereof is withdrawn to a point adjacent the bottom l of the said member 1. The heads 11 having been inserted into the space between the opposite sides of the member l'the opposite ends thereof may be placed. in any two oitV the notches 6, as is clearly indicated in the drawing. In the construction as shown the beadlike portions or narrow flanges 3 are provided with three couples oit notches upon opposite sides of the screw 12 or screw 13 andthe said heads are shown in the intermediatev couples o'l notches. It will be in'ideistood, however, that the heads 11 instead of being situated in the intermediate notches may be situated either in the innermost couple of notches 6 or in the outermost of said notches.

In Figs. 1 to 8 the `device is shown employed for clamping a cover oi' lid in place. The said cover is indicated at 2O and isprovided adiacent its outer edge'with a flange 21 which is adapted to be seated within the lltl l ll

outer end of a pipe 22 which is provided with a ilange 23. The lid or cover 2O is provided with an annular extension 2-1 which extends over the flange 23. To insure a hermetic seal between the cover 2O and the pipe 22 a washer 25 is interposed between the said extension 24 and the flange 23. The various parts having been placed in proper position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the screw 12 is screwed inwardly so as te cause the innerv end thereof to press with such torce as may be desired against the center' of the cover 20. To insure that the device shall remain in fixed relation `with respect tothe pipe 22 and the cover 2O i the latter is provided at its center with a depression 26 into'which the inner end of the screw 12 projects. It is obvious that by tightening or screwing the screw 12 inwardly the lid 2O is clamped against the outer end or". the pipe 22 or against the outer end of a bucket, receptacle or the like because of the fact that the hook end portions 28 of the hook members 10 are situated underneath and in engagement with the flange 23.

In the construction as shown in Fig. -1 of the drawings the device is employed as a hanger and is shown as being clamped or attached to the flanges of one edge of an I-beam 30. The screw 13 is extended, as indicated, and is provided with one or more brackets or platforms 31. 1n the construction as shown there are two of these brackets or platforms shown. 1t will be seen that in this construction these brackets or platforms may be adjusted to different positions upon the screw 13. The attachment of the device to an object such as the flanges of an I-beam V30 is effected in the same way as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing.

`It will be seen that the construction as shown in Fig. 41 is the same as in the preceding figures of the drawing but that a different ap lication or use of the invention is in-A dicate By reason of the construction as shown it will be seen that the device is adapted to be employed in connection with objects of diilerent widths. Upon reference to Fig. 1, for instance, it will be seen that the hook members 10 may be adjusted to any one of the three pairs or couples of notches upon the opposite sides of the screw 12 and also that the hooks having pivotal connection, with the bar-like member 1 may be swung inwardly or outwardly so. as to engage por tions of an object of smaller or larger dimensions. Forinstance, it will be observed, as

indicated by t-he dotted line positions of the hooks in Fig. 1, that if the heads 11 of the hook members 10 are seated within the outermost of the notches 6 the said hooks may be extended outwardly from the opposite ends of the member 1 so as to engage an object of greater width than the length of the said member 1.

It will also be seen that the heads of the hook members 10 may be readily removed from engagement with the member 1 by a retraction of the screw 12 so as to remove the inner end portion thereof from between the adjacent end portions of the flanges 2 and bead-like or narrow flange poi-tions 3. 1f, however, the-inner end of the screw is extended into position between the said adjacent ends the hooks 1() are prevented from accidentally becoming disengaged from the said member 1.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated rigid member having hook members connected therewith, which hook members are adjustablev both bodily and pivotally toward and from each other lengthwise of the said elongated rigid member and means for effecting engagement of the said device with an object.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated rigid member having seats formed at intervals therein and hook members terminating at ytheir inner ends in heads which are adapted to be adjusted within said seats toward and from each other and the said elongated member being provided with means for retaining the said heads in engagement therewith.

3. A device of the character described comprising an elongated member of U-shape in cross-section, the outer edges of the oppesite sides of said member being provided with inwardly extending flanges, the inner edges of which are situated in spaced rela.-

tion to each other, hook members, the stems of which are provided with oppositely eX- tending projections which are adapted to be inserted between the opposite sides Vof the said member and to engage the said inwardly extending flanges, the hooks of saidhook members being adapted to engage an object, substantially as described.

1. A device of thel character described comprising an elongated member substantially Vof U-shape in cross-section, the edges of the opposite sides being provided with inwardly extending flanges having notches arranged in couples at intervals therein, the said flanges Y being interrupted at points centrally of the said member, hook members having head portions situated within the space between the opposite sides ofthe said member and being adapted to Vbe seated within selected couples of seats, and a clamping. screw having adjustable connection with the top of said member and being adapted to project through the space formed by the interruptions of the said flanges, substantially as described.

5. A device of the character described comprising an elongatedV member substantially lll of Ushape in cross-section, the opposite sides of which are provided with inwardly extending flanges adjacent their edges which lianges` are provided with bead-like portions which project in a direction toward the bottom of the said U-shaped member, the said flanges and bead-like portions being interrupted at points centrally of the said member and the said flanges and bead-like portions being provided at intervals with notches arranged in couples, hook members, the stems of which terminate in cross-heads which are adapted to be inserted through the space formed by the interruption of the said flanges and beadlike portions into the space between the opposite sides of said member, which heads are adapted to be seated in the said seats, the hook ends of said hooks being adapted to engage portions of an object, and an adjustable clamping member having adjustable engagement with the said elongated member, the inner end of which is adapted to project below t-he innerside of the said member to engage an object and by tightening the same to cause the said hooks to press against the portions of said objects with which they are in engagement. Y

6. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated member of U-shape in cross section, hook members adjustably supported at their inner ends-upon the inner edges of the opposite sides of said elongated member, the hook ends of said hook members being adapted to engage portions of an object, and a clamping member, the inner end of which is adapted to project below theinner side of said elongated member to engage an object and by tightening the same to cause the hook ends of said hook members to press against the portions of said object with which they are in engagement.

7. A device of the character described,

comprising an elongated member of U-sha e in cross section, hook members adjustab y supported at their inner ends upon the inner edges of the opposite sides of said elongated member, the hook ends of said hooks being adapted to engage portions of an object, and means having adjustable engagement with the said elongated member for causing the hook ends of said hook members to be clamped against said object.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a bar like member, hook members pivotally connected at their inner ends to the said bar like member, which hook members are adapted to be adjusted toward and from each other upon said member, and adjustable means having adj ust-able connection with the said bar like member at a point located substantially at the middle of its length, said adjustable means being adapted to contact with an object and upon adjusting of the same in an inward direction to cause clamping of thc hook ends of the said hook member against said object. y

9. .A device of the character described, comprising an elongated rigid member having oppositely disposed sides from which flanges extend inwardly toward each other, hook members terminating at their inner ends in heads having oppositely extending portions which rest upon the said inwardly eXm tending flanges, which flanges are provided with means for pivotally retaining the said hook members in positions to which they may be adjusted, and means vfor permitting the said hook members tov be removed from and replaced upon the said inwardly eXtend- 

